OUR LADY OF LOURDES, RIJEKA

The
Church of Our Lady of Lourdes
Over Rijeka’s Žabica Square, at the location of the old church (17th
century), is an impressive red and white building with a neo-Gothic
façade (1904-1921) constructed on the occasion of the fiftieth
anniversary of the Lourdes apparitions. The Capuchin monastery leans
upon it. The historic separation (1924) of the city on the Riječina
(Croatian-Italian) was seen both in the church and monastery.
The first Croatian votive sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes
(Croatian Lourdes) was erected at the initiative of the Croatian
Capuchin province, by Father Bernardin Škrivanić, founder of
Rijeka’s “House of Good Publications” and the “Our Lady of Lourdes”
magazine (1908-1918). Like the one in Lourdes, this church has two
parts. The lower section (completed in 1908) is dedicated to Mary,
Consoler of the Soul while the upper section (completed in 1921) was
constructed by donations from
the pilgrims and painted with frescos by the well-known master,
Romulo Venucci, from Rijeka. At the top of the church’s ornate
façade, in the niche, is the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes (work by
Giuseppe Marietti). Even though the bell tower was part of the
designed project, it still has not been constructed.
At the main entrance is a wide staircase, however, the church can be
entered from two different streets.
Saint Leopold Bogdan Mandić (1866-1942) spent 25 days at the Church
of Our Lady of Lourdes (1923) where he conducted the "charismatic
confessional". His stay in Rijeka (confessional for Croatians) was
ended at the request that he return to followers in Padua. On
display in the monastery is an exhibit of items testifying to his
short stay in Rijeka. The name Father Ante Tomić is also permanently
tied to this church. The preparations to start the process for his
beautification are underway. Father Ante Tomić’s grave is in the
lower section of the church.